It has been nearly six months since the Celtics shakeup that sent franchise icons Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett out of town to Brooklyn, and already some of the weirdness has worn off.

On Tuesday, the two took another step in the process of moving on when, for the first time, they played a regular season game against the new-look Celtics.

Paul Pierce (AP Photo)

“No hard feelings,” Pierce told reporters. “I’m here. This is where I am at now. You have got to move on. You can’t mourn or put your head down.”

Making the outing against their old teammates a bit sweeter, the struggling Nets actually came up with a much-needed victory, winning 104-96. Pierce nearly missed the game because of a broken bone in his hand that kept him out for only four games, but came off the bench in the first quarter. He has struggled with his shot all year (he was shooting 36.8 percent entering the game) and was 0-for-3 from the floor for four points on Tuesday.

He did, however, show some of the versatility that made him so valuable in Boston, especially with Rajon Rondo out last year. Pierce played point-forward frequently, and recorded seven rebounds and three assists.

Garnett, meanwhile, had struggled even more than Pierce, averaging 6.4 points and shooting 36.2 percent entering the game against Boston. He managed one of his best games of the year, though, shooting 5-for-10 and scoring 11 points with nine rebounds and three assists.

Pierce acknowledged that, for both he and Garnett, the first return to Boston will be much more difficult. That will come on Jan. 26, a Sunday game that will be played on national television. Pierce had spent the entirety of his 15-year career with the Celtics.

Garnett had previously said he had no interest in leaving the Celtics. When his name surfaced in trade rumors last January, Garnett said, “I bleed green, I die green, that’s what it is. But it is a business. If it crosses the path, I’ll deal with it.”

Garnett had a no-trade clause and only agreed to waive it and accept a trade to Brooklyn after Pierce persuaded him.

This was just the opening act in what is being dubbed, “Reunion Week.” The Celtics will welcome the Clippers and former coach Doc Rivers to the TD Garden Wednesday, and the Clippers will then go to Brooklyn, where Rivers will square off against Garnett and Pierce on Thursday.